Simmonds to second line

The Philadelphia Flyers really need to do something about their defense. Offensively, they’ve been able to score this year, but they are just giving up way too many free opportunities.

So, they should switch up the offense? Yes, when you’re top two lines are minus 38, maybe you look at the guys up front.

And in Tuesday’s practice, Wayne Simmonds – the Flyers leading goal scorer with nine – was down on the second line with Sean Coutourier and Travis Konecny.

“We have to get our consistency back,” Simmonds said. “We have to make sure we’re doing the right things – limiting the turnovers, and some of the brain [locks] we’ve had without the puck. I think our game with the puck has been very good, but some of the things without the puck we can improve on.”

This move puts Jakub Voracek back up on the first line with Claude Giroux and Brayden Schenn. It shouldn’t affect the Flyers scoring too much, but I guess Dave Hakstol is hoping it improves the leaky defense.